How do you choose your multivitamins? Go to your local drugstore, favorite health food shop, supermarket, and you may be overwhelmed at the scores of varieties and brands and combinations of vitamin supplements there is. There are individual vitamin preparations, combinations of several vitamins, vitamin and mineral supplements, those with additional natural supplements and whatever other combinations and mishmash you can think of. Then there are those that boast of energy formulas, stress formulas, women’s formulas and men’s formulas. As if that’s not confusing enough, each of these have several different brands and manufacturers. We wouldn’t blame consumers if they really don’t know what they’re buying, as anyone would get tired just thinking about all the other options infinitely possible. Because of this, people often spend more than the needed amount on supplements that are not actually right for their body’s needs. The good news is that, you can buy supplements without ending up broke. Here are a few words of counsel.
• Think before buying that all-new popularly-advertised pill.
That new product of so and so company claims to make you more energetic, sexier, younger, and more this and that. Don’t get sucked in. Most supplement labels actually promise more than they can really give. Yes, vitamins play a role in complex biochemical processes that keep your body functioning well and keep those stress levels at bay. But they cannot do all that they claim when taken alone. They don’t reduce stress or increase your immunity or keep you safe from disease only by themselves. Some of them can help in certain conditions, but those that claim to give you all of the good stuff, like energy, complete protection from illness, youth and beauty, would seem too good to be true. And, truth be told, they most probably are.
• Look for that best before date.
Vitamins that have an expiration date on them imply that the manufacturer or packager understands that vitamins are to be consumed within a certain time. They are still products that have a limited time before they become ineffective or useless. Common sense will tell you to stay away from vitamins that have gone past their expiration date. They have most likely been in their containers for far too long and may not work the proper way.
• Keep those supplements out of your kids’ hands
Some vitamin or mineral supplements that may be left lying around can pose much more danger to your child than you think it can. Supplements like iron, in particular, are safe for most adults at the right amounts. But for children, just a few tablets can cause harm and possibly even death. Every year, more than a thousand children accidentally ingest large amounts of iron supplements, which cause severe damage and even death. Don’t be careless with where you place your vitamins. Don’t leave them anywhere your child can reach.
• Don’t pay attention to brand names.
Most vitamins are actually produced by only a few manufacturers. The other drug companies then source their products from these manufacturers, then package, label and advertise them as their own. Then, they charge a higher price than the original manufacturers. So, do you still believe in brand names? Well, I don’t anymore. Choose the cheapest vitamins you can find. Chances are, they have the same formula as the other, more expensive ones.
• Need Vitamin A? Choose beta-carotene instead
Beta-carotene from the food we eat is transformed into Vitamin A inside the body. Taking in beta-carotene is pretty much the same as taking in Vitamin A. The difference is that, Vitamin A is toxic in very high doses, especially when taken for long periods of time. Beta-carotene, however, is safe in any dose. Make sure that you check the labels to see the amount of Vitamin A you’re getting. Think twice before buying those that contain vitamin A with beta-carotene, as you may be receiving more than the usual vitamin A dose.
• Eat right first, then supplement.
Vitamins and other supplements are not substitutes for food. They cannot meet all of your nutritional needs, and will not do much for you if you constantly do not eat the right foods.
They are called supplements for the same reason that the word implies-they are just there to improve your intake of vitamins from foods, not completely replace it. Eat the right amount of fruits and vegetables whenever you can. Any of nature’s harvests can only be good for you, as they are shown to lower the risk of cancer, heart problems and most other diseases. Then, after doing your part, take those supplements for added health assurance.
• Your insurance formula may still not give you complete assurance, so supplement more.
That insurance formula you are taking may not be enough for your individual requirements. Different factors may predispose certain people to certain diseases. Genetics, for example, can make you more prone to acquiring conditions like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Because of this, different people may need different amounts of supplements. A higher intake of antioxidants can help save you from cancer later on. Aside from that, some minerals are required in very high amounts that they are not be able to fit into just one pill. Folic acid, for example, is required for women of childbearing age to rule out neural tube defects, but standard insurance formulas may not contain that much. These supplements may also contain iron, magnesium and calcium but only have amounts below the required doses.
Fred Burfell is an expert nutritionist and is a regular contributing columnist in a wide variety of health magazines. To learn more about how to buy supplements, visit buy supplements or discount vitamins.
